Wayne Rooney was a substitute in the side’s 0-0 draw with Burnley (Picture: Getty)

Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer believes Jose Mourinho is to blame for Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney being ‘overweight’.

Rooney, 31, has started just two of United’s last seven matches and his last league start came on September 18th in a 3-1 defeat to Watford.

The England captain has often struggled with his weight during the off-season or while he’s been injured but Rooney’s been appearing regularly for United, albeit from the substitutes’ bench.

However, McAteer, who spent four seasons at Anfield from 1995-1999, believes Rooney looks a lot ‘heavier’ for having lost his place in the side after Mourinho decided to drop him.

Rooney hasn’t started a league match in six weeks (Picture: Getty)

‘He came on as a sub. I’ve got to admit, I thought he looked a little bit heavier. He looked very sluggish,’ said McAteer.

‘Wayne Rooney, I think the way his body is, I think it’s not conducive to sit on the bench and not play any kind of football because he won’t be playing in the Under-23s. He won’t be ticking over and keeping match sharp.

‘He’ll just be getting his football through coming on as a substitute and I’d have to say that it’s not really conducive to Wayne. I actually thought he looked overweight to be honest. That sharpness had gone out of his game.’